Tt. Kung et al., MAST-CELLS MODULATE ALLERGIC PULMONARY EOSINOPHILIA IN MICE, American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology, 12(4), 1995, pp. 404-409
Mast cells are important effector cells in IgE-mediated acute allergic
reactions. Mast cells also produce cytokines such as interleukin (IL)
-3, IL-4, IL-5, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and granulocyte-macrophag
e colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) that regulate the function of eos
inophils and the development of a late-phase inflammatory response to
antigen challenge. To evaluate the role of mast cells on the developme
nt of IgE-mediated allergic pulmonary eosinophilia in vivo, we compare
d the eosinophil infiltration into lungs of mast cell deficient mice (
WBB6F(1)/J -W/W-v) with their congenic normal littermates (W/W+). Mice
were sensitized with alum-precipitated ovalbumin and challenged with
aerosolized ovalbumin on day 12 after sensitization. Bronchoalveolar l
avage (BAL) fluid, lung tissue biopsies, and blood samples were collec
ted after ovalbumin challenge. Eosinophil numbers in the BAL and lung
tissue, lung eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity and serum levels of
IgE and IgG(1) were measured. In sensitized W/W+ mice, there were incr
eased numbers of eosinophils in the BAL fluid and lung tissue, and EPO
levels were increased after ovalbumin challenge. Ovalbumin challenge
of sensitized mast-cell-deficient mice produced fewer numbers of eosin
ophils in the BAL fluid and lungs, and EPO levels were also reduced co
mpared with their challenged congenic littermates. On the other hand,
levels of serum IgE and IgG(1) were not different between W/W-v mice a
nd their congenic littermates. Adoptive transfer of cultured bone-marr
ow-derived mast cells (1 x 10(7) cells) from W/W+ mice into W/W-v mice
4-5 wk before sensitization restored the eosinophilia in the BAL flui
d and lung tissue and increased EPO levels in the lung to values that
were not significantly different from those seen after antigen challen
ge in normal littermates. These results identify an important role for
mast cells in the eosinophil infiltration into the lungs of allergic
mice.